Ads #82: Feminine Hygiene

You may think the United States is the best at selling "freedom", but we don't hold a candle to feminine hygiene advertising.  The name of the game is providing a product which will allow your life to go on unabated by your monthly visitor....

1972

Free at last! Thank God almighty we are free at last!

1971

Yes, you can dress in a tight leotard and contort your body in gymnastics class even when Aunt Flo has come to visit.

Free to even stick your ass right in the face of your date with no worries.

1969

1969

For the teens....

Life lessons from Tampax: "I thought virgins couldn't use tampons."

And more lessons from Modess...

Of course, next to "freedom" comes "comfort".  This ad is from 1967 - it wasn't that long before that women basically buckled up a non-disposable diaper each month.

This is a very un-PC ad - featuring all the careers of women: stewardesses, models, nurses, housewives, and secretaries.


Modess obviously went for the "glamour" angle in the late sixties...

1967

In ancient times, women were segregated from society during menstruation. Now, you are as elegant and confident as a movie star flowing across the red carpet (ahem... perhaps that was a bad analogy).

1967

My favorites are the comic book style ads.  This one, courtesy Armpit Studios, is a keeper....

That last panel implies lovemaking took place this weekend.... which is a thought I'd rather not dwell on.

1972

The following Meds went for the "active" and "free" approach, showing you could do just about anything with their Freedom Tampons ...

1967

1968

As always, look no further than Europe for examples of sexing up advertising (that probably shouldn't be sexed up).

A few more.  Let's stroll through the years of feminine hygiene advertising, shall we?

1955

1963

1969

1970

1972

1974

1979

1981

1986